Project Start Up

Start-Up projects are distinguished by its intensive terms of performance, high importance and increased risks for a company. The realization of such projects leads to a significant physical, intellectual and emotional tension of managers engaged in rapidly changing and unpredictable start-up work. So success of such works depends on special project managers’ skills and experience.

Project startup is a very short phase of the project management cycle that includes concept development, planning, start-up, execution and close-out. Project startup is a transition step between project planning and execution. Here the project team must be formed, resources must be brought together, and the plan must be finalized. Here important stages in its realization can be found:

1. Establishing project plan The first step of the project start-up stage is to finalize the project plan and establish a baseline. Baseline refers to a plan that has been placed under configuration management so that changes to the plan are made under control. A final tuning of the project plan typically occurs during the project start-up phase. Minor changes contain a refinement of activities, the addition of oversight and quality activities. Also that includes alteration to the project schedule.

Poor management of tools and equipment required for the project’ performance can lead to situations where project team members are left idle while waiting for delivery of products. This puts the project at risk in the initial days, and presents morale issues that can be difficult to address.

2. Creation of a project Database The database will contain at least the following types of information:

3. Assignment of Personnel/Selecting a project team The project manager is concerned with properly staffing the effort with personnel that meet the skills requirements defined by the project plan. During this phase, there will be final negotiations over what personnel can be assigned and when they will be available.

4. Project Kick-off meeting This is an extremely busy time for the project manager. Time must be made for effective communication. Communication is critical to the success of any project. One key communication method is project meetings.

Purpose of Meeting The kick-off meeting provides a forum to: " Publicly state that the project is beginning " Communicate the shared view of the project " Establish a commitment by all who affect the project outcomes " Review the goals, objectives and success factors of the project.

Before starting, it is vital to gain the commitment of the business to the proposed project. The outputs must be clearly defined and agreed, along with the measures (critical success factors) against which the outputs will be judged. It is also vital to ensure there are adequate numbers of staff with the required skill set and experience for the task.

At Oxagile (BelHard group) we are able to start projects in a short period which is 2 months due to a usage of Agile methodology. Agile software development is a conceptual framework for undertaking software engineering projects. Our specialists use agile software methods and successfully implement agile methodology into development teams.

Vera Leonik, PR specialist at Oxagile is a European-based provider of custom software solutions. Our services are targeted at businesses, individuals and organizations that seek to benefit from IPTV, multimedia streaming and online video capabilities. For more detailed information on PR management, please feel free to contact us.